The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-28

front OF the hammer, ready for that quick
, and deadly motion called flaming"
Another moment, and the door softly
opened and ,Beaver-Dam Bill entered fell
lowed by his companion. They must have
been looking cautiously downward and
picking their steps, for they were both in
the room before they saw the weapon
pointed at them, and the fierce eyes be-
hind it. and heard the grim command:
Hold up yer hands-yer' They obeycd
in an instant, in unmistakable surprise and
panic. Uncle Jim advanced a step.
II don't know why didn't shoot the pair
Of We on sight" said be in concentrated
tones.
The small man. crinying before him, man
aged to command his voice.
''Ar. Boyle" he stammered, ''don't shoot,
don't shootl We amt a-doin' no harm.
Hope to die eff 1 amt givin' it to yer
| straight. Our guns amt loaded; yer kin
| see fur yerself"
! Uncle Jim's face relaxed slightly. He
approached the men, who dared not lower
their hands, and took the revolver from the
belt Of each. Sure enough, they were not
| charged. He felt for concealed weapons,
| but found mono.
| "All right" he said. 81 allow We amt
very dangerous just nov: but I'd like to
| know what you cnsses is a-doin'.'
| Then Mustang Nose spoke to him, for the
first since his arrival at the ranch. 'Pu
! tell We" said he, "Me an this ERE pard q
mine we struck streak O. bad luck; an
! we had TO light out of Denver in a hurry,
an we coma down here. We might as well
be hung for sheep as fur lamb, and we
wouldn't a. made no bones Of maxim a
strike in this yere ranch; but, when you
was a-givin' US the grand bounce, an that
| pooty little gal come out an looked at US
two toughs with them gentle eyes o. her'n
an spoke in that pityin' voice, wal, blamed
eff tibet didn't jest fetch me; am when got
my pard alone, 1 seq to him: No funny
business here an he SEE, You bet AM
we allowed to light out of this at daylight.
an strike fur the mountains. Say, Mister,
We amt got no call to keep US, hev yem
| Uncle jim hesitated one moment; then,
with shrug Of his shoulders, he said:
you're right: amt got no use for We.
| Git!"
The men needed no second permission.
In five minutes time they were we'll on the
road to the foothills. Unoie Jim watched
their progress.
"A precious pair o. tolghs, an no mis-
take" said he to himself. They'd got
! dJ WIN 10 iaSO III IL OhOf " "a" ohSOt1
to. An they let up because the little girl
was good to 'em. WAL, said there want
10 man that would harm her, an even them
cusscs-that, when We come to size 'em up,
want lnen, but hrutes-they couldn't do it.
Now allow they've been up to a sight O.
wickodness, but they done one square thing,
an no mistake"
! An hour passed, and still Uncle Jim sat
in the bright sunlight, gazing toward tho
! foothills. Then the sound OF galloping
hoofs was heard; it came nearer and near
er, and six horsenen, splendidly mounted,
rode round the corner Of the house and
/ pulled up. To any one familiar with tho
West, glance would have told their char
acter and their purpose. On their stern,
but not angry nor excited faces, in their
| curiously unmistakable air OF grim, per-
| sstent determination was written, as fin
J plain type, Vigilantel
"Hullo, Jiml shaker" cried the leader.
| "What's .upi" asked Uncle jun, returning
the salutation.
| "Havc you seen the pair OF cusses we're
afterl" asked the leader. "One was tall,
and the other short, with red hair"
"Why," said Uncle Jim, ''we put 'cm up
fur the night, an they amt been gone
moren an hour"
you put them upi" cried the leader,
with an air of establishment, some sign of
which appeared even on the stern and stolid
faces behind him. "You put them up, and
there's any one of you alive to tell the tale
this morningl Well, haven't time to talk
now, but when We come back / shall want
to ask you what on earth you did to keep
them quiet. Now, which way did they go.
| Straight up the road to tho range! All
| RIGHT Good .hua rOTna nd
| they were off at gallop.
Uncle Jim sat as before. looking straight
before him. Close to the foot hills the
mountain road forked, one branch leading
toward the south, another to pass; and
| the frontiersman had seen the two men
take the former.
EFF Joha had asked me- Of course I'd
a-toS him which way they went" said he
| to himself, ''but he didn't wait. l allow
them cusses is agoin' to be took, but ]
swear I'd sooner hev 'em took some other
| time than jest when they've done the sQuar
thing O. their lives" Then he lighted his
pipe. All Fong had come noisslessly be-
bind him. Later on he heard the latter cry
Ali yahi''
Uncle Jim looked up and saw the Chinese
hoy gazing to the westward. Following
his glance, he caught the last glimpse of
the vigilants squirting up the road to the
pass-the wrong road
Good morning. Mr.. Boyle" he heard, in
a soft voice behind him. Where are our
guestsl"
"Waal, We see miss" no replied, "they
was in an awful harry, an they've been
gone nigh on an hour.''
Then he looked at the charming girl
standing there with tho sun shining on her
brown hair, and thought, almost with q
shudder, OF what might have been in the
long night watches just passed. She had
indeed been the benelcent fairy who had
exercised the demons; the good angel who
had set at naught the powers of darkness.
All this Uncie Jim thought from the depths
OF his honest heart, but after the manner
of his kind he expressed himself very la
conically, just as the call came for break
fast.
The sun was shining moro brightly than
ever. The plains at the east and the noun
tains at the west were bathed in a flood of
golden light. The happy party were gath
ering around the Widespread table, and
then Uncle Jim drew long breath.
"Blame me- said he, "ef she amt
daisy PA. 4. Hayes. M Epoch.
Substantial County Roads.
The Importance of good roads in